Mattress with cooling and heating function

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a mattress, which performs a cooling function under a high temperature environment owing to air permeability thereof and a thermal function under a low temperature environment via natural convection, thereby providing a pleasant sleep environment in all temperature conditions. The mattress includes a cushioning member to perform a cushioning operation, a thermal laminate member disposed on one surface of the cushioning member, a heating element to perform a heating operation upon receiving power and to exhibit elasticity, a cooling laminate member disposed on the other surface of the cushioning member and having air permeability, and a cover member to surround an outermost portion of the mattress. By simply changing the orientation of the mattress and using the elastic cooling and heating members, the mattress is compatibly used all the year round to provide a pleasant sleep environment without deterioration of an intrinsic cushioning function and load dispersing/supporting function.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mattress with cooling and heatingfunctions, and more particularly, to a mattress with cooling and heatingfunctions, which is capable of performing a cooling function under ahigh temperature environment owing to air permeability thereof and ofperforming a heating function under a low temperature environment vianatural convection, thereby providing a pleasant sleep environment inall temperature conditions.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, owing to modernization, change of a residential culture toapartments and the like, the percentage of the population that uses bedsis gradually increasing and currently, most homes possess beds. A bed isconstituted of a bed frame and a mattress installed to the bed frame.The mattress may be classified into a spring mattress, a latex mattress,a stone mattress and a Hwangto (yellow soil) mattress, according toconstituent materials or cushioning types thereof.

Although a bed using a spring mattress or a latex mattress has a greatercushioning function than a bed using a stone mattress or a Hwangtomattress and thus, provides comfort and ease during sleep, it is notprovided with a heating device, which may cause a user to feel cold inthe winter.

For this reason, most users of this kind of mattress use a cover, suchas an electric blanket, on an upper surface of the mattress, to achievethermal effects if necessary.

Such an electric blanket has conventionally been fabricated in such amanner that a serpentine copper wire, which serves as a heating wire, isembedded in a planar body, or in such a manner that carbon textile yarnsare woven to construct a planar heating element and cover sheets overlayrespectively upper and lower surfaces of the planar heating element.However, since the electric blanket lacks elasticity, covering amattress with the non-elastic electric blanket may disadvantageouslydeteriorate or disable intrinsic cushioning effects of an ergonomicmattress obtained by heavy investment and research and development.

In addition, although many conventional mattresses have been fabricatedto employ a spring or latex foam as a shock absorbing interior material,due to the fact that the latex foam has poor air permeability althoughit exhibits cushioning effects, a mattress employing a spring shockabsorbing member is mainly used to achieve air permeability. However,this spring mattress still has difficulty in providing a comfortablesleep environment in the summer because of insufficient air permeabilitythereof.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies ona mattress with cooling and heating functions, which is capable ofperforming a cooling function under a high temperature environment owingto air permeability thereof and of performing a thermal function under alow temperature environment via natural convection, thereby providing apleasant sleep environment in all temperature conditions.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problemlies on a mattress with cooling and heating functions, which is capableof performing a thermal function via natural convection withouthindering not only a cushioning function of an ergonomic mattress for asound sleep, but also a load dispersion function to uniformly disperseand support the weight of a human body.

Technical Solution

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing amattress with cooling and heating functions, the mattress including acushioning member configured to perform a cushioning operation, athermal laminate member disposed on one surface of the cushioningmember, a heating element configured to perform a heating operation uponreceiving power and to exhibit elasticity to resist external force, acooling laminate member disposed on the other surface of the cushioningmember and which is configured to have air permeability, and a covermember configured to surround an outermost portion of the mattress.

The mattress may further include a heat blocking planar element disposedon an outer surface of the thermal laminate member and which serves toprevent heat from being transferred inward, the heating element may bedisposed on an outer surface of the heat blocking planar element, andthe cooling laminate member may include a permeable pad formed byweaving elastic linear members into a plate shaped net.

The mattress may further include an air circulating fan configured tosuction outside air into the mattress or to discharge the interior airof the mattress to the outside, wherein the air circulating fan islocated at a lateral portion of the cover member.

The mattress may further include an extendable device including acylinder secured to the mattress at a predetermined position and a rodconfigured to move in linkage with contraction and expansion of themattress, the air circulating fan may be mounted to the cylinder so asto remain stationary without a risk of oscillation.

The cooling laminate member may further include a net interposed betweenan inner surface of the permeable pad and the cushioning member, and adual fabric disposed on an outer surface of the permeable pad and whichincludes an upper fabric and a lower fabric vertically spaced apart fromeach other, with connective yarns interposed therebetween, and woven toexhibit air permeability.

The thermal laminate member may include a hard pad disposed in contactwith the surface of the cushioning member and which is formed into aplate shape to have air permeability, a soft pad disposed in contactwith an outer surface of the hard pad and which is formed into a plateshape to have air permeability, and a foam pad disposed in contact withan outer surface of the soft pad and which is formed into a plate shapeto have air permeability.

The cover member may include a lining fabric disposed in contact withthe heating element and the cooling laminate member and which is wovento have air permeability, a cover fabric additionally provided on anouter surface of the lining fabric and which internally defines a hollowregion and has a plurality of vent holes communicating with the hollowregion, and a shock absorbing material interposed between the liningfabric and the cover fabric and which serves to perform a shockabsorbing operation.

The heat blocking planar element may be formed of a fabric, which isdensely woven to increase heat retention effects by preventing heat frombeing transferred inward and which is subjected to flame retardantfinishing to achieve heat resistance.

The thermal laminate member or the cooling laminate member may be foamprovided with pores having a diameter ranging from 1 mm to 30 mm, and apolymer resin mixed with functional particles is coated and hardened onthe foam.

The thermal laminate member or the cooling laminate member may be formedof a dual fabric, the dual fabric may include an upper fabric, a lowerfabric downwardly spaced apart from the upper fabric with a spaceinterposed therebetween, and connective yarns interposed in the space toconnect the upper fabric and the lower fabric to each other, and theupper fabric, the lower fabric and the connective yarns may be formed ofelastic textile yarns or metal yarns.

The dual fabric may include a foam layer provided in the space.

The heating element may include a heating conductive wire disposed inthe dual fabric and which serves not only to perform a heating operationupon receiving power, but also to exhibit elasticity to resist externalforce.

The heating element may include a heating conductive wire disposed inthe air permeable pad and which serves not only to perform a heatingoperation upon receiving power, but also to exhibit elasticity to resistexternal force.

The cushion member may include an array of a plurality of compressivesprings, and the heating element may be a planar heating element, whichis formed by weaving weft yarns and warp yarns into a planar structureand simultaneously, weaving at least one strand of conductive wire in awarp yarn direction to have a linear shape or a wave shape, and the weftyarns and/or the warp yarns may include elastic polymer yarns to providethe planar heating element with elasticity.

The conductive wire may include a centrally located core yarn, aplurality of strands of insulated conductive yarns twisted on an outercircumference of the core yarn, and a plurality of strands of textileyarns wound on the conductive yarns to form a coating layer, or mayinclude a centrally positioned elastic core yarn formed of an elasticpolymer yarn, a plurality of strands of insulated conductive yarns woundon the core yarn, and a sheath layer elastically formed on an outercircumference of the conductive yarns.

The planar heating element may be separably coupled to an adjacentmember.

The cover member may include a vent hole to enable flow of air into themattress, and the vent hole may be provided with an opening/closing doorto prevent air heated during the heating operation of the heatingelement from leaking to the outside of the mattress.

An additional pad may be detachably attached to the planar heatingelement and may contain particles formed of at least one of afar-infrared radiation material, an electromagnetic shielding material,an anion generating material and a sterilizing and antibacterialmaterial.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is amattress with cooling and heating functions, the mattress including acushioning member configured to perform a cushioning operation, alaminate member disposed on one surface of the cushioning member, afluid transfer pipe disposed on an outer surface of the laminate member,through which a heating or cooling fluid moves, a fluid storagecontainer in which the fluid to be moved to the fluid transfer pipe isreceived, a fluid circulator configured to circulate the fluid throughthe fluid transfer pipe, a heat exchanger configured to heat or cool thefluid to be moved to the fluid transfer pipe, an input unit configuredto input the temperature, flow rate and movement time of the fluidmoving through the fluid transfer pipe, a control unit configured tocontrol the fluid circulator and the heat exchanger in response to aninput signal from the input unit, and a cover member configured tosurround an outermost portion of the mattress.

The mattress may further include a temperature sensor configured tosense the temperature of the fluid within the fluid transfer pipe andapply the sensed signal to the control unit, and a humidity sensorconfigured to sense the interior humidity of the mattress and apply thesensed signal to the control unit, the fluid circulator may include acirculation pump, and the heat exchanger may be a thermoelectricsemiconductor module in which substrates are provided at both sides ofP-type and N-type thermoelectric semiconductors and which is adapted tobe increased or decreased in temperature according to the supplydirection of power so as to heat or cool the fluid.

The mattress may further include at least one selected from among a dualfabric and a foam, the dual fabric may include an upper fabric and alower fabric vertically spaced apart from each other with connectiveyarns interposed therebetween and woven to have an interior space forinstallation of the fluid transfer pipe, and the foam may have a holefor installation of the fluid transfer pipe.

The mattress may further include waterproof sheets provided respectivelyat upper and lower sides of the fluid transfer pipe.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, a mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the present invention can perform not only a coolingfunction under a high temperature environment, such as in summer, owingto air permeability thereof, but also a thermal function under a lowtemperature environment, such as in winter, via natural convection.Accordingly, the mattress can be compatibly used all the year roundregardless of temperature as a sleeper simply changes the up and downorientation of the mattress. Further, the mattress has the effect ofproviding a pleasant sleep environment in all temperature conditions.

In particular, as a result of providing the mattress with an elasticcooling member and an elastic heating member, the mattress having anergonomic design can successfully perform cooling and heating functionswithout deterioration in an intrinsic cushioning function as well as aload dispersing and supporting function thereof. Additionally, themattress has the effect of achieving enhanced safety and market quality.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of a mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating main parts of the mattress withcooling and heating functions in accordance with the first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views illustrating a heating elementincluded in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an installed state of the heating elementincluded in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling laminate memberincluded in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a structure for installationof an air circulating fan included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a first alternative embodiment of thecooling laminate member included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a second alternative embodiment of thecooling laminate member included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a first alternative embodiment of thethermal laminate member included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a first alternative embodiment of themattress with cooling and heating functions in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a second alternative embodiment of themattress with cooling and heating functions in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of a mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating an installed state of a heatexchanger included in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are views illustrating different installation examplesof a fluid transfer pipe included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 14B.Wherever possible, throughout FIGS. 1 to 14B, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.In the respective drawings, an illustration and a detailed descriptionof configurations and functions and effects thereof which can be easilyunderstood from general technology by those skilled in the art will bedescribed briefly or be omitted, and illustration is centered on onlyconstituent elements related to the subject matter of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of a mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2is a sectional view illustrating main parts of the mattress with coolingand heating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mattress with cooling and heatingfunctions in accordance with the present invention, which is generallydesignated by reference numeral 1, includes a thermal laminate member13, a heat blocking planar element 14 and a heating element 15, whichare arranged at one side of a cushioning member 12 accommodated in acover member 11. On the basis of the cushioning member 12, one sidethereof realizes a heating operation under a low temperatureenvironment, such as is encountered, e.g., in the winter, whereas theother side thereof is provided with a cooling laminate member 16 havingair permeability to realize a cooling operation under a high temperatureenvironment, such as is encountered, e.g., in the summer, which resultsin a pleasant sleep environment all the year round.

Although the cushioning member 12 may be freely selected from amongvarious cushioning materials, such as latex foam, without a limitationso long as it can exhibit cushioning effects, in the present embodiment,the cushioning member 12 may include compressive springs, which arerelatively inexpensive and can exhibit sufficient air permeability. Moreparticularly, a plurality of compressive springs, which have a slightlysmaller length than a thickness of a conventional mattress, is arrangedadjacent to one another to form the rectangular cushioning member 12.

The thermal laminate member 13 is disposed on one surface of thecushioning member 12. The thermal laminate member 13 includes a hard pad131, a soft pad 132 and a foam pad 133, which are sequentially stackedone above another from the interior to the exterior.

The hard pad 131 takes the form of a plate having air permeability andis disposed in contact with one surface of the cushioning member 12. Thehard pad 131 is formed by applying or coating a polymer resin onto finetextile yarns and hardening the same. Assuming that the textile yarnsare elastic textile yarns such as synthetic resin yarns, the resultantpad may be harder than polymer foam which is called sponge.

The soft pad 132 is disposed in contact with an outer surface of thehard pad 131 and is formed of a thin non-woven fabric suitable toachieve sufficient air permeability.

The foam pad 133 takes the form of a plate and is disposed in contactwith an outer surface of the soft pad 132. The foam pad 133 has aplurality of pores in a pad body, to exhibit excellent cushioningeffects and sufficient air permeability.

The heat blocking planar element 14 is disposed on an outer surface ofthe thermal laminate member 13. The heat blocking planar element 14 doesnot allow heat emitted from the heating element 15 to be transferredinward toward the cushioning member 12, but allows transfer of heattoward a sleeping surface of the mattress 1 on which a sleeper lies. Tothis end, the heat blocking planar element 14 may be formed of a fabricwhich is fabricated by densely weaving low thermal conductivity textileyarns to effectively prevent heat from being transferred inward. Thefabric used to form the heat blocking planar element 14 is subjected toflame retardant finishing to obtain heat resistance characteristics andthus, is not easily disappeared by a fire.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views illustrating the heating elementincluded in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the heating element 15 is disposed on anouter surface of the heat blocking planar element 14 and serves not onlyto emit heat upon receiving electric power, but also to exhibitelasticity to resist external force.

Although the heating element 15 may be freely selected from amongvarious configurations so long as it does not hinder a cushioningfunction of the mattress, in the present embodiment, a planar heatingelement 15 a having elasticity may be employed. The planar heatingelement 15 a is fabricated in such a manner that weft yarns and warpyarns are woven into a planar fabric and simultaneously, at least onestrand of conductive wire 151 is woven as a weft yarn or a warp yarn tohave a linear shape or a wave shape. In particular, among the weft yarnsand/or the warp yarns provided to weave the planar heating element,elastic polymer yarns, such as spandex yarns, are included. As theelastic polymer yarns are woven to provide the planar heating element,the resulting planar heating element may exhibit elasticity to resistexternal force.

The conductive wire 151, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, may be constitutedof a heat resistant core yarn 1511, a plurality of strands of insulatedconductive yarns 1512 twisted on an outer circumference of the core yarn1511, and a plurality of strands of textile yarns 1513 wound on theconductive yarns 1512 to form a coating layer. The conductive wire 151having the above described configuration does not exhibit elasticity andtherefore, it is necessary to weave the conductive wire 151 to have awave shape as illustrated in FIG. 3A, in order to provide the wovenplanar heating element 15 a with elasticity.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the conductive wire 151 isconstituted of an elastic core yarn 1514, which is centrally positionedin the conductive wire 151 and is formed of an elastic polymer yarn suchas a spandex yarn, a plurality of strands of insulated conductive yarns1515 wound on the core yarn 1514, and a sheath layer 1516 elasticallyformed on an outer circumference of the conductive yarns 1515. In thiscase, the sheath layer 1516 is formed of a plurality of strands oftextile yarns wound on the outer circumference of the conductive yarns1515. The conductive wire 151 having the above described configurationexhibits elasticity and hence, the resultant planar heating elementachieves elasticity although being linearly woven.

The conductive yarns 1512 or 1515 may be freely selected from among avariety of linear conductive members (for example, textile yarnscontaining a conductive material in the form of nano particles, platedyarns obtained by plating textile yarns with a conductive metal, orcarbon fiber yarns). Here, the linear conductive members may serve toconduct electric current according to the magnitude of voltage orcurrent applied thereto, or may serve to emit resistance heat. In thepresent embodiment, the conductive yarns 1512 or 1515 may be formed ofmetal yarns having a diameter of several tens to several hundredmicrometers. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive wires 1512 or1515 may be selected from among metal yarns (commonly, referred to asenamel yarns) formed by coating stainless steel yarns, titanium yarns,or copper yarns having a diameter of 10 μm to 50 μm with an insulatingmaterial. In this case, although the strand number of the conductiveyarns may be changed in various manner according to rated voltage,heating temperature and the like, five to thirty strands of conductiveyarns may be provided.

An additional pad may be detachably attached to an inner surface or anouter surface of the planar heating element 15 a. The pad may containparticles formed of at least one selected from among a far-infraredradiation material, such as ceramic, etc., an electromagnetic shieldingmaterial, such as metal nano particles, metal oxide particles, etc., ananion generating material, such as tourmaline, etc., and a sterilizingand antibacterial material, such as silver nano particles, charcoal,etc.

The planar heating element 15 a is further provided with a power supplydevice (not shown) to apply electric current to the conductive wire 151.The power supply device may be an AC to DC power supply device thatconverts AC line voltage to DC voltage, or may be a rechargeable powersupply device.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an installed state of the heating elementincluded in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.4, illustration of a part of the cover member is omitted to expose theinner heating element.

Referring to FIG. 4, the planar heating element 15 a is separable forrepair or replacement. To this end, in the present embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 4, the planar heating element 15 a is separablycoupled to the heat blocking planar element 14 located therebelow bymeans of a separator 152 in the form of a zipper.

In addition to the configuration as illustrated in FIG. 4, anotherconfiguration of separably coupling the planar heating element mayinclude a fixing cover (not shown), which is connected to an edgeportion of the planar heating element so as to be fixed to the mattress,and a fixing member (not shown), which allows the planar heating elementto be selectively separated from the fixing cover. In this case, thefixing member may be any one of a Velcro fastener, a button, a zipperand the like, and the fixing cover may be formed of a fabric in the formof a mesh net.

The planar heating element may be woven with antistatic yarns (notshown) to prevent generation of static electricity. The antistatic yarnsmay be selected from among fine metal yarns, metal plated fibers, fiberscontaining copper sulfide in the form of nano particles and the like.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the cooling laminate memberincluded in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

The cooling laminate member 16 is disposed on the other surface of thecushioning member 12 and is configured to achieve air permeability. Inparticular, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, thecooling laminate member 16 may include a permeable pad 161, which isformed by weaving elastic linear members into a plate shaped net, inorder to achieve enhanced cooling effects. The linear membersconstituting the permeable pad 161 may be monofilaments 1611, which haveelasticity and thus, exhibit excellent restoration.

In addition to the permeable pad 161, the cooling laminate member 16, asillustrated in FIG. 2, further includes a net 162 interposed between aninner surface of the permeable pad 16 and the cushioning member 12 and adual fabric 163 provided at an outer surface of the permeable pad 16.The dual fabric 163 consists of an upper fabric 1631 and a lower fabric1632, which are vertically spaced from each other with connective yarns1633 interposed therebetween and are woven to exhibit air permeability.

The cover member 11 is configured to surround the entire outer surfaceof the mattress 1. Although the cover member 11 may have various shapesso long as it can exhibit sufficient air permeability, in the presentembodiment, the cover member 11 is formed by sewing a lining fabric 111,a shock absorbing material 112 and a cover fabric 113, which aresequentially arranged from the interior to the exterior, to define asingle planar body, in order to provide the sleeper with comfort andachieve air permeability.

The lining fabric 111 may be a mesh net shaped fabric installed incontact with both the heating element 15 and the cooling laminate member16 so as to surround the entire mattress.

The cover fabric 113, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is additionally disposedon an outer surface of the lining fabric 111 and internally defines ahollow region 1131. The cover fabric 113 further has a plurality of ventholes 1132 to communicate with the hollow region 1131. The cover fabric113 takes the form of a dual fabric consisting of an upper fabric 1136and a lower fabric 1137, which are vertically spaced apart from eachother with connective yarns 1135 interposed therebetween and are wovento exhibit air permeability.

The shock absorbing material 112 is interposed between the lining fabric111 and the cover fabric 113 to perform a shock absorb function. Theshock absorbing material 112 is made of synthetic cotton or naturalcotton.

The cover member 11 is dividable into two parts for ease in washing andinstallation. To separate the cover member 11 into two parts, the covermember 11 is provided with any separator 114, such as a zipper, which islocated at a lateral position of the mattress.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the mattress 1 is further provided at alateral portion of the cover member 11 with an air circulating fan 115.The air circulating fan 115 serves to suction outside air into themattress 1, or to discharge the interior air of the mattress 1 to theoutside. This air circulation enhances air permeability of the mattress1, allowing the sleeper to be comfortable during sleep even under a hightemperature environment, such as in summer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a structure for installationof the air circulating fan included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

The air circulating fan 115 is installed to an extendable device 118,which is moved in linkage with contraction and expansion of themattress, which ensures implementation of a smooth blowing operationeven if the height of the air circulating fan 115 is changed in athickness direction according to a cushioning operation of the mattress.For example, the extendable device 118 includes a cylinder 1181 and arod 1182 which is vertically moved by a spring (not shown) elasticallyinstalled within the cylinder 1181. When the air circulating fan 115 isinstalled to the cylinder 1181 of the extendable device 118 having theabove described configuration, only the rod 1182 performs translationalmovement along with the cushioning member 112 even if the cushioningmember 112 in the form of an array of compressive springs is contractedor expanded by the weight of the sleeper. Thereby, the cylinder 1181exhibits no movement relative to the mattress 1 and the air circulatingfan 115 installed to the cylinder 118 remains stationary and is capableof stably performing a blowing operation.

The cover member 11 is provided with a vent hole 116 through whichoutside air is introduced into the mattress or the interior air of themattress is discharged to the outside. The vent hole 116 is preferablyprovided with an opening/closing door 1161. The door 1161 is closed inan airtight manner to the vent hole 116 to prevent leakage of air heatedduring thermal treatment by the heating element 15, which enhancesthermal treatment via natural convection.

Hereinafter, operations of the mattress with cooling and heatingfunctions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention will be described in brief.

First, when it is desired to use the mattress 1 with cooling and heatingfunctions in accordance with the present invention under a hightemperature environment, such as in summer, the mattress 1 is orientedsuch that the cooling laminate member 16 is located upward.

In a state in which the cooling laminate member 16 is located upward,the cushioning member 12 in the form of an array of compressive springscan act to communicate the interior of the mattress with the outside,thus achieving enhanced air permeability. Moreover, as the coolinglaminate member 16, which is disposed in contact with the cushioningmember 12, is constituted of the net 162, the permeable pad 161 and thedual fabric 163, all of which have excellent air permeability, and thecover member 11 is also constituted of the lining fabric 111, the shockabsorbing material 112 and the cover fabric 113, all of which haveexcellent air permeability, smooth flow of air is possible.

In particular, the permeable pad 161 is formed into a plate by windingmonofilaments that may be used as a fishing line due to highrestoration. Thus, the permeable pad 161 may exhibit remarkably enhancedair permeability as compared to foam that is widely used in conventionalbeds as an auxiliary cushioning member, which provides a comfortablesleep environment under a high temperature environment, such as insummer.

On the contrary, when it is desired to use the mattress 1 with coolingand heating functions in accordance with the present invention under alow temperature environment, such as in winter, the mattress 1 isoriented such that the heating element 15 is located upward.

In a state in which the heating element 15 is located upward, if theuser operates the power supply device to supply electric power to theconductive wire 151 as a heating wire of the planar heating element 15a, a heating operation is initiated. In this case, since the heatblocking planar element 14 is provided at a lower surface of the planarheating element 15 a, it is possible to prevent heat generated by theplanar heating element 15 a from being transferred to the cushioningmember 12 and to guide the heat to be transferred to the cover member11, on which the sleeper lies, via natural convection, which has theeffect of achieving thermal effects.

The surface of the heat blocking planar element 14 is subjected to flameretardant finishing and therefore, it is possible to preventdeterioration of the mattress or generation of a fire even if the planarheating element overheats.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a first alternative embodiment of thecooling laminate member included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the cooling laminate member 16 may be formed offoam in such a manner that pores 162 having a diameter of 1 mm to 30 mmis formed in a foam body 161. In this case, functional particles 163performing beneficial effects may be contained in the pores 162, or apolymer resin mixed with the functional particles 163 may be coated andhardened on the foam body.

Here, the functional particles mean a far-infrared radiation material,such as ceramic, etc., an electromagnetic shielding material, such asmetal nano particles, metal oxide particles, etc., an anion generatingmaterial, such as tourmaline, etc., and a sterilizing and antibacterialmaterial, such as silver nano particles, charcoal, etc.

Although the foam illustrated in FIG. 7 may also serve as the thermallaminate member owing to cushioning effects thereof, the foam may bemore effectively used as the cooling laminate member because the poresthereof have a diameter in the range of 1 mm to 30 mm suitable toachieve excellent air permeability.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a second alternative embodiment of thecooling laminate member included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention. More particularly, FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustratingmain parts in a simplified manner.

Referring to FIG. 8, the cooling laminate member 16 may take the form ofa dual fabric consisting of an upper fabric 164, a lower fabric 165downwardly spaced apart from the upper fabric 164 with a spaceinterposed therebetween, and connective yarns 166 interposed in thespace to connect the upper fabric 164 and the lower fabric 165 to eachother. Also, weft yarns 167, warp yarns 168 and the connective yarns166, which constitute the dual fabric, may be elastic textile yarns ormetal yarns.

Although the elastic dual fabric may be used as the thermal laminatemember owing to cushioning effects thereof, it may be more effectivelyused as the cooling laminate member because the upper fabric 164 and thelower fabric 165 are formed of permeable fabrics and are arranged withthe space therebetween so as to exhibit excellent air permeability.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a first alternative embodiment of thethermal laminate member included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention. More particularly, FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustratingmain parts in a simplified manner.

Referring to FIG. 9, although the thermal laminate member 13 takes theform of a dual fabric similar to the cooling laminate member 16 inaccordance with the above described second alternative embodiment,additionally, the thermal laminate member 13 includes a foam layer 137in a space between an upper fabric 135 and a lower fabric 136. In thiscase, the foam layer 137 is formed of polyurethane based foam resinhaving relatively excellent cushion characteristics.

Although the thermal laminate member 13 having the above describedconfiguration may be used as the cooling laminate member in terms of thefact that all of the upper fabric 135, the lower fabric 136 and the foamlayer 137 perform cushioning effects, due to the presence of the foamlayer 137 provided in the space of the dual fabric, the thermal laminatemember 13 may be more effectively used as the thermal laminate memberbecause it exhibits less air permeability and greater heat retentionefficiency than the dual fabric illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a first alternative embodiment of themattress with cooling and heating functions in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, only the thermallaminate member and the heating element, which represent majordifferences, are illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 10, the mattress 1 with cooling and heating functionsin accordance with the first alternative embodiment includes thecushioning member (not shown) performing a cushioning operation, thethermal laminate member (not shown), the heating element 15, the coolinglaminate member (not shown) and the cover member (not shown). Thethermal laminate member 13 includes a permeable pad 138 formed byweaving elastic linear members into a plate shaped net, and the heatingelement 15 includes a heating conductive wire 155, which functions togenerate heat upon receiving electric power and is disposed in thepermeable pad 138 so as to exhibit elasticity to resist external force.

The heating conductive wire 155 may have the same configuration asdescribed with relation to FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B.

In the mattress with cooling and heating functions in accordance withthe first alternative embodiment, instead of providing the planarheating element, the permeable pad 138, which constitutes the thermallaminate member 13, functions as a heating element by means of theheating conductive wire 155 embedded therein, which can realize themattress 1 with cooling and heating functions in a more simplifiedmanner.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a second alternative embodiment of themattress with cooling and heating functions in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, only the thermallaminate member and the heating element, which represent majordifferences, are illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 11, the mattress 1 with cooling and heating functionsin accordance with the second alternative embodiment includes thecushioning member (not shown) performing a cushion operation, thethermal laminate member (not shown), the heating element 15, the coolinglaminate member (not shown), and the cover member (not shown). Thethermal laminate member 13 includes a dual fabric 139, and the heatingelement 15 includes a heating conductive wire 156 which functions toemit heat upon receiving electric power and is disposed in the dualfabric 139 so as to exhibit elasticity to resist elastic force.

The dual fabric 139 includes a foam layer 139 a provided in a spacethereof for heat retention. The heating conductive wire 156 may bedisposed on an upper fabric 1391 or a lower fabric 1392 of the dualfabric 139, or may be woven in the space along with connective yarns1393. FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which the heating conductivewire 139 is disposed on the upper fabric 1391 close to the sleepingsurface of the mattress.

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of a mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.Illustration with respect to constituent elements (e.g., the cushioningmember) similar to the above described first embodiment is omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the mattress with cooling and heatingfunctions in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention, which is generally designated by reference numeral 2,includes the cushioning member (not shown), the laminate member (notshown), a fluid storage container 22, a fluid transfer pipe 23, a fluidcirculator 24, a heat exchanger 25 and a cover member 21. The mattress 2is configured to perform a heating operation under a low temperatureenvironment, such as in winter, and a cooling operation under a hightemperature environment, such as in summer, which can provide thesleeper with comfortable sleep.

Similar to the above described first embodiment, the cushioning member(not shown), which exhibits cushioning effects, is made of a compressivespring suitable to reduce cost and achieve sufficient air permeability.

The laminate member (not shown) is disposed on one surface of thecushioning member and includes a permeable pad formed by weaving elasticlinear members into a plate shaped net to enhance cooling properties (inthe same manner as the first embodiment).

The fluid storage container 22 is a storage container in which fluidsuch as water is received. An outlet port and an inlet port of the fluidtransfer pipe 23 which will be described hereinafter are connected tothe fluid storage container 22.

The fluid transfer pipe 23 provides a flow path of heating or coolingfluid and is configured in such a manner that a hose formed of amaterial having excellent heat exchange characteristics is arranged in azigzag pattern on an outer surface of the laminate member.

The fluid circulator 24 serves to circulate the fluid through the fluidtransfer pipe 23 and may be a circulation pump.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating an installed state of the heatexchanger included in the mattress with cooling and heating functions inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

The heat exchanger 25 serves to heat or cool the fluid moving throughthe fluid transfer pipe 23. The heat exchanger 25 takes the form of aconventional thermoelectric semiconductor module in which substrates 252and 253 are provided at both sides of P-type and N-type thermoelectricsemiconductors 251 and adapted to be increased or decreased intemperature according to the supply direction of power so as to heat orcool the fluid.

The thermoelectric semiconductor module serving as the heat exchanger25, as illustrated in FIG. 13, is installed in such a manner that thesubstrate 252 is attached to a wall surface of the fluid storagecontainer 22 to heat or cool the fluid via heat exchange according tothe supply direction of power. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 254represents a packing for air tightness, and cooling and radiating fan(not shown) may further be provided to enhance efficiency of thethermoelectric semiconductor module.

The cover member 21 is configured to surround the entire mattress 2.Similar to the above described first embodiment, the cover member 21 maybe formed by integrally sewing a lining fabric (not shown), a shockabsorbing material (not shown) and a cover fabric (not shown), which aresequentially arranged from the interior to the exterior.

The mattress 2 with cooling and heating functions in accordance with thesecond embodiment of the present invention further includes an inputunit (not shown) to input the temperature, flow rate and movement timeof the fluid moving through the fluid transfer pipe 23, a control unit(not shown) to control the fluid circulator 24 and the heat exchanger 25in response to an input signal from the input unit (not shown), atemperature sensor (not shown) to sense the temperature of fluid withinthe fluid transfer pipe 23 so as to apply the sensed signal to thecontrol unit, and a humidity sensor (not shown) to sense the interiorhumidity of the mattress 2 so as to apply the sensed signal to thecontrol unit.

A waterproof sheet 26 is provided at an upper surface and/or a lowersurface of the fluid transfer pipe 23, to prevent the fluid transferpipe 23 from being damaged by condensed water.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are views illustrating different installation examplesof the fluid transfer pipe included in the mattress with cooling andheating functions in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 14A, in one example to assist in installing andfixing the fluid transfer pipe 23, there may further be provided a dualfabric 28 consisting of an upper fabric 281 and a lower fabric 282,which are vertically spaced apart from each other with connective yarns283 interposed therebetween and are woven to define a spacetherebetween.

As illustrated in FIG. 14B, in another example to assist in installingand fixing the fluid transfer pipe 23, there may further be provided afoam body 29 having an installation hole 29 a.

When the fluid transfer pipe 23 is secured in the same manner asillustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the fluid transfer pipe 23 may be notonly more stably secured, but also may enhance cooling and heatingefficiencies because the dual fabric 28 or the foam body 29 serve toretain heat or coldness.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A mattress with cooling and heating functions, the mattresscomprising: a cushioning member configured to perform a cushioningoperation; a thermal laminate member disposed on one surface of thecushioning member; a heating element configured to perform a heatingoperation upon receiving power and to exhibit elasticity to resistexternal force; a cooling laminate member disposed on the other surfaceof the cushioning member and which is configured to have airpermeability; and a cover member configured to surround an outermostportion of the mattress.
 2. The mattress according to claim 1, furthercomprising a heat blocking planar element disposed on an outer surfaceof the thermal laminate member and which serves to prevent heat frombeing transferred inward, wherein the heating element is disposed on anouter surface of the heat blocking planar element, and wherein thecooling laminate member includes a permeable pad formed by weavingelastic linear members into a plate shaped net.
 3. The mattressaccording to claim 2, further comprising an air circulating fanconfigured to suction outside air into the mattress or to discharge theinterior air of the mattress to the outside, wherein the air circulatingfan is located at a lateral portion of the cover member.
 4. The mattressaccording to claim 3, further comprising an extendable device includinga cylinder secured to the mattress at a predetermined position and a rodconfigured to move in linkage with contraction and expansion of themattress, wherein the air circulating fan is mounted to the cylinder soas to remain stationary without a risk of oscillation.
 5. The mattressaccording to claim 2, wherein the cooling laminate member furtherincludes: a net interposed between an inner surface of the permeable padand the cushioning member; and a dual fabric disposed on an outersurface of the permeable pad and which includes an upper fabric and alower fabric vertically spaced apart from each other, with connectiveyarns interposed therebetween, and woven to exhibit air permeability. 6.The mattress according to claim 5, wherein the thermal laminate memberincludes: a hard pad disposed in contact with the surface of thecushioning member and which is formed into a plate shape to have airpermeability; a soft pad disposed in contact with an outer surface ofthe hard pad and which is formed into a plate shape to have airpermeability; and a foam pad disposed in contact with an outer surfaceof the soft pad and which is formed into a plate shape to have airpermeability.
 7. The mattress according to claim 6, wherein the covermember includes: a lining fabric disposed in contact with the heatingelement and the cooling laminate member and which is woven to have airpermeability; a cover fabric additionally provided on an outer surfaceof the lining fabric and which internally defines a hollow region andhas a plurality of vent holes communicating with the hollow region; anda shock absorbing material interposed between the lining fabric and thecover fabric and which serves to perform a shock absorbing operation. 8.The mattress according to claim 2, wherein the heat blocking planarelement is formed of a fabric, which is densely woven to increase heatretention effects by preventing heat from being transferred inward andwhich is subjected to flame retardant finishing to achieve heatresistance.
 9. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the thermallaminate member or the cooling laminate member is foam provided withpores having a diameter ranging from 1 mm to 30 mm, and a polymer resinmixed with functional particles is coated and hardened on the foam. 10.The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the thermal laminate memberor the cooling laminate member is formed of a dual fabric, wherein thedual fabric includes an upper fabric, a lower fabric downwardly spacedapart from the upper fabric with a space interposed therebetween, andconnective yarns interposed in the space to connect the upper fabric andthe lower fabric to each other, and wherein the upper fabric, the lowerfabric and the connective yarns are formed of elastic textile yarns ormetal yarns.
 11. The mattress according to claim 10, wherein the dualfabric includes a foam layer provided in the space.
 12. The mattressaccording to claim 10 or 11, wherein the heating element includes aheating conductive wire disposed in the dual fabric and which serves notonly to perform a heating operation upon receiving power, but also toexhibit elasticity to resist external force.
 13. The mattress accordingto claim 2, wherein the heating element includes a heating conductivewire disposed in the air permeable pad and which serves not only toperform a heating operation upon receiving power, but also to exhibitelasticity to resist external force.
 14. The mattress according to claim1, wherein the cushion member includes an array of a plurality ofcompressive springs, and wherein the heating element is a planar heatingelement, which is formed by weaving weft yarns and warp yarns into aplanar structure and simultaneously, weaving at least one strand ofconductive wire in a warp yarn direction to have a linear shape or awave shape, and wherein the weft yarns and/or the warp yarns includeelastic polymer yarns to provide the planar heating element withelasticity.
 15. The mattress according to claim 14, wherein theconductive wire includes a centrally located core yarn, a plurality ofstrands of insulated conductive yarns twisted on an outer circumferenceof the core yarn, and a plurality of strands of textile yarns wound onthe conductive yarns to form a coating layer, or includes a centrallypositioned elastic core yarn formed of an elastic polymer yarn, aplurality of strands of insulated conductive yarns wound on the coreyarn, and a sheath layer elastically formed on an outer circumference ofthe conductive yarns.
 16. The mattress according to claim 15, whereinthe planar heating element is separably coupled to an adjacent member.17. The mattress according to claim 15, wherein the cover memberincludes a vent hole to enable flow of air into the mattress, andwherein the vent hole is provided with an opening/closing door toprevent air heated during the heating operation of the heating elementfrom leaking to the outside of the mattress.
 18. The mattress accordingto claim 14, wherein an additional pad is detachably attached to theplanar heating element and contains particles formed of at least one ofa far-infrared radiation material, an electromagnetic shieldingmaterial, an anion generating material and a sterilizing andantibacterial material.
 19. A mattress with cooling and heatingfunctions, the mattress comprising: a cushioning member configured toperform a cushioning operation; a laminate member disposed on onesurface of the cushioning member; a fluid transfer pipe disposed on anouter surface of the laminate member, through which a heating or coolingfluid moves; a fluid storage container in which the fluid to be moved tothe fluid transfer pipe is received; a fluid circulator configured tocirculate the fluid through the fluid transfer pipe; a heat exchangerconfigured to heat or cool the fluid to be moved to the fluid transferpipe; an input unit configured to input the temperature, flow rate andmovement time of the fluid moving through the fluid transfer pipe; acontrol unit configured to control the fluid circulator and the heatexchanger in response to an input signal from the input unit; and acover member configured to surround an outermost portion of themattress.
 20. The mattress according to claim 19, further comprising: atemperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the fluidwithin the fluid transfer pipe and apply the sensed signal to thecontrol unit; and a humidity sensor configured to sense the interiorhumidity of the mattress and apply the sensed signal to the controlunit, wherein the fluid circulator includes a circulation pump, andwherein the heat exchanger is a thermoelectric semiconductor module inwhich substrates are provided at both sides of P-type and N-typethermoelectric semiconductors and which is adapted to be increased ordecreased in temperature according to the supply direction of power soas to heat or cool the fluid.
 21. The mattress according to claim 20,further comprising at least one selected from among a dual fabric and afoam, wherein the dual fabric includes an upper fabric and a lowerfabric vertically spaced apart from each other with connective yarnsinterposed therebetween and woven to have an interior space forinstallation of the fluid transfer pipe, and wherein the foam has a holefor installation of the fluid transfer pipe.
 22. The mattress accordingto claim 20, further comprising waterproof sheets provided respectivelyat upper and lower sides of the fluid transfer pipe.